Yes, I know he's way behind Judge in most offensive categories. And, contra the clueless, I know oWAR adjusts for positional scarcity and dWAR for positional value, etc. (That said, both those cut against him on his games at DH.)

About 10 days ago, I said in a comment to someone else's post that I thought one thing that had to happen was Seattle to win the division. Not just make the playoffs but win the division.

Well, that happened Wednesday night.

And something else happened Wednesday night that wasn't totally on the radar screen 10 days or so ago.

Yeah, Judge hit his 50th dong Wednesday night and became just the fourth guy and second (I presume the Colossus of Coke wasn't channeling his inner Pud Galvin) non-roider to do that four times.

But the Dumper hitting No. 60? That, with the division clinching in the same game? It's a narrative. A story.

I think he wins. The FUCKING MVP.

Edit: For the more delusional among the Yankee faithful claiming Judge is having one of the greatest seasons ever? He's not even at 9 WAR yet. 8.9 bWAR through Tuesday's stats.

Alex FUCKING Bregman had 9.0 WAR in 2019. One of the best seasons all time, in recent years, would be Pedro Martinez 11.7 in 2000. Or, as a batter, Betts 10.7 in 2018. Or Trout 10.5 in 2016 and 2016. There's been a LOT of 9+ WAR seasons just since 2000. Here you go. (I actually wrote that about Ohtani.)

37 comments

  1. If Raleigh wins, the phrase “but he’s a catcher” will echo through the halls of baseball history

  2. Forget the 60 homers and winning the home run derby as a switch hitting catcher… Dropping an F bomb on live TV after winning the AL west for the first time in 24 years is deserving of MVP.

  3. Most valuable player is Cal Raleigh.

    most valuable offense is Aaron Judge.

    There are more aspects to a player than only offense. MVP is more than just batting.

  5. He has 4* games to get 2 more HR. That will get him the MVP.
    (*probably fewer if they clinch 2 seed which I think they only need 1 win to do?)

  6. I’m glad people are finally taking him seriously, but why is 60 the magic number? You weren’t convinced at 58 but you were convinced at 60?

  7. I just spent my evening at t-mobile with 40,000 other fans NOT watching baseball in Seattle? We won the west and cal hits 2 home runs. Cal plays way more innings than judge and only 2 other catchers in the entire league have more innings. Does he deserve it more? People will complain no matter who gets the MVP, but don’t put down baseball fans in Seattle

  8. Everyone is so desensitized to Judge they’ve lost all ability to appreciate the insanity of hitting 50+ home runs while winning the batting title.

    Getting on base at a .452 percentage (100 points higher than Raleigh).

    OPS+ of 209 (one of the highest in 80 years) compared to 168 for Cal.

    He leads OPS over Cal by almost 200 points, not even the same stratosphere.

    Judge leads Cal in batting average by 80 points.

    Any argument for Raleigh over Judge is just twisting narratives into a pretzel. If any of you could add one player to your team this year, we all know which one you would really find more valuable.

  11. I’ll be a lot less mad over Judge not winning this MVP than in 2017. At least I get understand this one.

  12. Anyone who thinks that 60 is deserving of MVP but 58 isn’t is a moron and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

    That being said, my vote would still go to Judge.

  13. There have been 17 other instances of players hitting 58 home runs or more in a season.
    Unless he goes on an unreal heater to end the season, he will have the lowest batting average, OBP,SLG, OPS, and total bases of anyone to ever hit 58 home runs in a season.
    He is the only player to hit 58 home runs with less than a .600 SLG, and the only player on that list below .250. His batting average is .245 right nov.. the next lowest on that list is .269 by Roger Maris.
    Aaron Judge currently has a fielding run value of 4 and ranks in the 78th percentile according to baseball savant. Cal Raleigh has a fielding run value of 5, and ranks in the 81st percentile. Judge is a plus defender in right field, anyone trying to slander Judge for it just doesn’t know ball.
    There have only been 34 seasons with a 200 or greater OPSt, judges 2025 is a 209, which is 17th EVER.
    Cal Raleigh has a 168 OPSt, which ranks as the 128th best OPS+ of all time.
    In terms of OPS+ there are 7 better offensive seasons by a catcher with Mike Piazza leading the pack at a 185 OPS+ in 1997.
    Cal is having an amazing season, one of the best by a catcher and certainly the best power wise. But Aaron judge is on a different planet, he is having a top 20 offensive season all-time. Giving Cal the MVP for having 60 home runs is simply malpractice.

    Edit : credit to u/stereotypicalginger

  14. Judge is going to win the batting title while hitting 50 hrs.

    Times that’s happened sans Barry roided up?

    Zero.

    He’s been so dominant the last few years people are TRYING to find a reason not to give him MVP. Like Trout those 7 years.

    Edit: apparently it happened twice in the black and white TV era. 1938 and 1956.

    Stop acting like he isn’t setting history here people.

  15. Baseball doesn’t care about your feelings. As a Reds fan, I know that all too well. Judge is MVP.

    See Cal, The numbers don’t lie and they spell disaster for you at the MVP vote.

  16. The award isn’t “highest OPS+” or “trophy for highest WAR according to Baseball Reference’s algorithm”. It is “Most Valuable” which is a SUBJECTIVE title based on context and the overall season of the story. Judge is hitting well. Cal is the MVP.

  17. Folks in this thread often forget all the things WAR does NOT take into account for catchers.

    Think about everything s catcher does behind the plate. None of that related to calling the game is captured by WAR.

  18. To me, Cal is definitely deserving of the MVP, don’t get me wrong, but Judge getting snubbed of another MVP in his career is just frustrating to see. I mean, at least this year, if Cal wins, it’s technically not a snub because like I said he’s very deserving. But man… what the hell were they thinking on 2017?

  19. Funny thing is, the Yankees and Mariners played each other 6 times this year. Yanks went 5-1. Judge walked it off in their last game. People also are failing to take into account how the AL West is trash compared to the AL East. Narratives are fun but Judge has far and away been the better player. 

  20. Also, there’s been one other switch hitter in MLB history to hit 50+ HRs in a single season – his name is Mickey Mantle. Pretty good company for Cal Raleigh to be in.

  21. Yall just getting voters fatigue . Any other year it’s “ judge only got home runs “ , now what exactly has cal done better than judge this season ?

  23. I would really like to see a comparison between Judge and Raleigh on all offensive stats based off of the respective averages of that position instead of the straight up comparison that I’ve seen. Being a catcher makes a difference.

  25. Remember when McGwire broke the HR record and they gave him the MVP? No? That’s because they gave it to Sosa, who had a better season over all. Homers don’t mean jack if you’re batting sub .250.

  26. The OP forgot to mention that the Big Dumper is putting these numbers up as a CATCHER.

    I actually hope he continues to go off and take out Judge’s AL record for HR’s in a season

  28. So in 2017, we decided batting average mattered more than home runs despite a near 100 point OPS lead.

    Now in 2025, we’ve decided that home runs now matter more than batting average?

  29. Harder position by far and the best at it. Way more difficult home park to hit in. The most home runs by a catcher or switch hitter ever. Helping his team in a big way surge to a division title and a top playoff spot. It should be Cal hands down for the MVP.

  30. Angels fan here. It’s Judge. HRs are fun, but judge is way more complete of a hitter and their defensive numbers are pretty much a push.

  31. Acting out of emotions instead of facts. Judge is the clear cut MVP. It’s not really close. And I hate the Yankees. Raleigh is certainly having a great season though.

  32. Thinking about this macro level. You would think that the guy who’s case was built around “more home runs” would at least be even or close in slugging%. Instead it’s the other guy who is leading by ~100 slg% pts

  33. I love Judge and I’m generally of the mind that the guy with the best WAR deserves MVP. That said, I won’t be upset at all if Cal gets it. 60 homers by a switch-hitting catcher is beyond amazing.

  34. My mom still thinks it’s Judge, but I just don’t see it right now. I get that when Judge is good, the Yankees are good and all that, but with injury and his production being slightly lower, Raleigh deserves it.

    It’s kinda insane that Judge can be having a pretty average season in his eyes and still be top 3 MVP

  37. Raleigh is incredible. He’s killing it, and he put the team on his back. But Judge’s season is historic. He may end up being the 3rd player in MLB history to ever hit 50 hr and win the batting title.

    1938 Jimmie Foxx

    1956 Mickey Mantle

    (Potentially) 2025 Aaron Judge

    That’s it.

    Also leads the majors in WAR, batting average, on base %, slugging %, and OPS

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